Changing to a different sponsor - PLEASE HELP

openair · Post by **openair** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 7:47 pm

Hi everyone

In short, I've stopped my course at a university and have been accepted to a new one at a different university. My current VISA was received on March 3rd 2009 and expires in March 2012.

I'm very confused about the following page (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/emplo ... g-sponsor/), which discusses the possibilities for students such as I wanting to change sponsors.

The second paragraph entitled: "If the student's current permission to stay is based on a Tier 4 application made before 5 October 2009" is relevant to my case as I received my current visa on March 3rd 2009 (and expires on March 31st 2012). The paragraph refers to a form I am required to submit, you can download it on the top right of that same page.

However, the first line of the document under the title mentions completely different dates: "This form is for Tier 4 migrants who wish to change Tier 4 Sponsor AND applied for Entry Clearance or Leave to Remain between the dates of 31 March 2009 and 4 October 2009 inclusive".

What I am supposed to understand?

Thank you in advance for your time

Post by **Greenie** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 11:01 pm

openair wrote:Hi everyone

In short, I've stopped my course at a university and have been accepted to a new one at a different university. My current VISA was received on March 3rd 2009 and expires in March 2012.

I'm very confused about the following page (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/emplo ... g-sponsor/), which discusses the possibilities for students such as I wanting to change sponsors.

The second paragraph entitled: "If the student's current permission to stay is based on a Tier 4 application made before 5 October 2009" is relevant to my case as I received my current visa on March 3rd 2009 (and expires on March 31st 2012). The paragraph refers to a form I am required to submit, you can download it on the top right of that same page.

However, the first line of the document under the title mentions completely different dates: "This form is for Tier 4 migrants who wish to change Tier 4 Sponsor AND applied for Entry Clearance or Leave to Remain between the dates of 31 March 2009 and 4 October 2009 inclusive".

What I am supposed to understand?

Thank you in advance for your time

if your visa was issued on 3rd march 2009 then it will be an old style student visa not a tier 4 visa. Tier 4 visas were only issued from 31 march 2009. You don't need to complete the form you are looking at and you can enrol at your new university without making an application to the ukba.

openair · Post by **openair** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 11:04 pm

Thank you for your reply.

However, I'm pretty sure I have to notify the UKBA that I'm changing sponsors even if I have a pre tier-4 visa?

Secondly, this visa will expire in March 2012 while my new course will last until June/July.

Post by **Greenie** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 11:15 pm

openair wrote:Thank you for your reply.

However, I'm pretty sure I have to notify the UKBA that I'm changing sponsors even if I have a pre tier-4 visa?

Secondly, this visa will expire in March 2012 while my new course will last until June/July.

no you do not need to notify ukba you changing sponsor as you visa is not tied to a specific sponsor. Your university will have an international student advisor try speaking to them

at some point you will need to extend your visa to complete your course but you don't need to do this in order to start your new course and you don't need ukba's permission to start it either.

Post by **Greenie** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 11:17 pm

See also

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/study ... -31-March/

openair · Post by **openair** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:26 am

Thank you for your precious help.

Are you certain of it?

openair · Post by **openair** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:43 am

I called the UKBA help center and I was told that I will need to apply for an extension since the length of my new course will be longer than my current visa.

Can someone refer me to the extension form?

Thank you

Post by **vinny** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:46 am

Applying from inside the UK.

Post by **Greenie** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 2:43 pm

openair wrote:I called the UKBA help center and I was told that I will need to apply for an extension since the length of my new course will be longer than my current visa.

Can someone refer me to the extension form?

Thank you

yes that is correct as per my earlier post but you don't need to apply before you enrol.

openair · Post by **openair** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 6:25 pm

Okay. If I understood everything correctly:

- I am aloud to return to the UK and do my new course until my current non tier-4 visa expires (March 2012)

- I will have to apply for a Tier-4 extension when I get closer to that date. Any suggestions as to when?

Post by **Greenie** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:34 pm

openair wrote:Okay. If I understood everything correctly:

- I am aloud to return to the UK and do my new course until my current non tier-4 visa expires (March 2012)

- I will have to apply for a Tier-4 extension when I get closer to that date. Any suggestions as to when?

you can apply as soon as you meet the rules if you wish or you could wait until later on. It may be wise to wait until you have completed 6 months of the new course so that you qualify for the reduced maintenance level.

tyroxxx1 · Post by **tyroxxx1** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 7:37 pm

Hi

I applied to switch tier 4 sponsors. does anyone know how long it takes before i get a response. there isn't a lot of information abt switching education providers.

Post by **Greenie** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 8:59 pm

tyroxxx1 wrote:Hi

I applied to switch tier 4 sponsors. does anyone know how long it takes before i get a response. there isn't a lot of information abt switching education providers.

what form did you use?

When did you apply for your current leave?

tyroxxx1 · Post by **tyroxxx1** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 9:05 pm

Ive been studying at a private institute and was given only one year which expires in September. i was granted in october last year for a level four . as rules are changing i have applied to a uni and been offered a place to study my degree. so i applied using the T4(PTS) the one for people who applied after october 2009. sent out my application last week and would like to know the time frame as i need to apply for an extension soon as the respond before my visa expires.

tyroxxx1 · Post by **tyroxxx1** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 9:06 pm

tyroxxx1 wrote:Ive been studying at a private institute and was given only one year which expires in September. i was granted in october last year for a level four . as rules are changing i have applied to a uni and been offered a place to study my degree. so i applied using the T4(PTS) the one for people who applied after october 2009. sent out my application last week and would like to know the time frame as i need to apply for an extension soon as the respond before my visa expires.

sorry one year expiring in november not september.

Post by **Greenie** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 9:24 pm

tyroxxx1 wrote:Ive been studying at a private institute and was given only one year which expires in September. i was granted in october last year for a level four . as rules are changing i have applied to a uni and been offered a place to study my degree. so i applied using the T4(PTS) the one for people who applied after october 2009. sent out my application last week and would like to know the time frame as i need to apply for an extension soon as the respond before my visa expires.

T4(PTS) is not for people who applied after October 2009. It is only for people who last applied between the dates of 31 March 2009 and 4 October 2009 inclusive - as stated on the front of the form.

If you going to study with an HTS sponsor then you need to make an application for leave to remain on the tier 4 general application form.

tyroxxx1 · Post by **tyroxxx1** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 9:30 pm

well i got a link and it led me to that form stating its for people that applied after 2009. we've already made an application to switch , so what will happen to that??

what do you mean by leave to remain on the tier4 general .. is that like a initial application??? our next application was going to be extension and i am progressing with the course at a different institution.

the new rules state that you have to apply to the home oofice to swap schools.

Post by **Greenie** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 9:39 pm

tyroxxx1 wrote:well i got a link and it led me to that form stating its for people that applied after 2009. we've already made an application to switch , so what will happen to that??

what do you mean by leave to remain on the tier4 general .. is that like a initial application??? our next application was going to be extension and i am progressing with the course at a different institution.

the new rules state that you have to apply to the home oofice to swap schools.

who is 'we'?

The form does not say that - read the front of the form - it clearly states that it is for people who applied between 31 March 2009 and 4th October 2009.

Yes - in order to start studying with a new sponsor you need to make a whole new tier 4 application to study with your new sponsor.

Read the tier 4 policy guidance - particularly para 315 - 319.

Your university will have an international student adviser - speak to them for further advice.